The Canadian rider from Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies added a stage win to his considerable run of success, in the process denying the sprinters one crucial opportunity of their own.

Routley joined a breakaway of six riders: Matt Cooke (Jamis), Greg Daniel (Bissell), Kevin de Masmaeker (Novo Nordisk), and the UnitedHealthcare duo of Chris Jones and Jonathan Clarke, who went clear early in the 102.6-mile stage from Monterey to Cambria. The six worked smoothly together and used a surprise tailwind to hold off the hard-charging pack, which left it too late to begin the chase in earnest.

“The goal was to get in the break and defend the KoM jersey,” said Routley, but with about 30km to go and after they’d crested the last climb, the increasing tailwind gave them fresh legs. “I came here with the goal of winning a stage, but I didn’t think today would be the day,” he said.

The result was uncharacteristic for a day with a flatter route that many expected would end in a bunch finish, particularly given the number of sprinters in the field and the climbing days to come.

Overall leader Bradley Wiggins’s Sky team kept the break on a relatively short leash, never allowing them more than a small handful of minutes’ lead. But as the responsibility for the chase shifted to the sprinters’ teams, the urgency wasn’t there, and the increasing tailwind left the six leaders with two minutes as they went under the 10k-to-go banner.

With the break’s success almost assured, UHC’s Clarke attacked with 3k to go but was quickly marked and then dropped. De Masmaeker started the sprint, but left it too soon and it was Routley who came around for the win.

Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step) led home the chase, beating Cannondale’s Peter Sagan. Brad Wiggins was in the small group and, in the split that developed, added four seconds back to his lead over the other GC contenders.

Listen to Stage 4 winner Will Routley take us through the day's nerve-wracking final kilometers.

While his stage win indicates he’s clearly on form, Routley said that he felt he’d have to make at least one more breakaway on a stage with climbs to get enough points to keep the title. Routley has already been in the break on every road stage, and Thursday’s Stage 5 has a Category 1 climb over San Marcos Pass worth 10 points.

For the sprinters, it was a missed opportunity, and on the most straightforward sprint finish left in the race. Stage 5 has a large climb that could prove trouble for some riders; Stage 7 features several big climbs before a long descent to Pasadena; and Stage 8 has three ascents of the punchy Rock Store climb. All three could end in sprints, but it’s far from a sure thing. They’ll be motivated to not repeat today’s mistake.

The GC contenders mostly sat in, trying to eat, drink, and stay out of the wind. They’ll wait for Friday’s key summit finish on Mountain High, but several team directors are certainly telling riders to be mindful of the small gaps that can develop and add to Wiggins’s lead as happened today.

ATOC Diaries: Tom Boonen's Stage 4

What’s Next
Stage 5 is a 107.4-mile ride from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara. But there will be no cooling coastal breezes on Thursday; the route goes inland near the 101 freeway, where temperatures could approach 100 degrees.

The profile is up and down all day; never as punchy as today’s route, but the Category 1 climb of San Marcos Pass looms, with the summit at 90 miles, and could be difficult for the sprinters’ teams to control a breakaway while still keeping their riders in the chase.

Tour of California Beers: Firestone Walker Wookey Jack
As the race heads south from the Bay Area to Southern California, it trades one stronghold of craft brewing for another. Thankfully, in between there are outposts of amazing ales and lagers like Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, not far from today's finish town of Cambria. Many oenophiles know the town as wine country and the setting of the movie Sideways, starring Paul Giamatti, but as thirsty vintners say, it takes a lot of beer to make wine. Firestone Walker makes no bad beers that we've tried—and we've tried many—but the Wookey Jack stands out. It’s good enough to make a sommelier smile. This inventive ale blends spicy and toasty barley, rye, and dark wheat grains with juicy, floral American hops. The result lies somewhere in the area of an IPA, dunkelweizen, and rye beer, somehow showcasing the best of each style.